Located in the heart of Oklahoma City, EÔTÉ Coffee is a small-batch, craft coffee roaster with a passion for connecting people and building relationships. In this interview, founder and chief coffee officer, Todd Vinson, and the Director of Business Operations, Patrick Will, discuss what the wholesale roster offers, including their free Thursday coffee tasting program.

Every Thursday from 2 pm to 4 pm, EÔTÉ Coffee invites the public to their industrial building for free coffee tastings, a tour of their facility, and friendly conversations. Technically, EÔTÉ Coffee is a retailer so they can’t sell cups of coffee, but do allow patrons to donate to a nonprofit in exchange. While I was there filming, they had invited Leaf + Bean to brew coffee.

]]>http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/03/codak-smith-balance-composure/feed/01576435.486215 -97.53910535.486215-97.539105Monday Music Discovery for March 12, 2018http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/03/monday-music-discovery-for-march-12-2018/
http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/03/monday-music-discovery-for-march-12-2018/#respondMon, 12 Mar 2018 12:00:26 +0000http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/?p=15717In the Monday Music Discovery playlist, I feature a mixtape of both new music video videos and singles of all genres of music by local bands in Oklahoma. In this Monday Music Discovery, I have new music by Jay Nino. If you’re interested in having your music video or new single highlighted, connect here.

Elevators by Jay Nino
– Jay Nino on InstgramArtist Statement: Video was shot and edited by Hero Films. Production from lucid. Mix and mastered by igloo panda.

If you’re interested in having your music video or new single featured in the Monday Music Discovery series, connect here.

The exhibition explores the diverse styles, backgrounds and techniques of nearly 30 origami artists from around Oklahoma, the nation and the world as well as the unique applications for the art form — from solving problems in the fields of robotics, medicine and space exploration to uses in fashion and architecture.

“Artists like physicist Robert Lang, wildlife biologist Bernie Peyton, MIT faculty Erik and Martin Demaine, and professional artist Paul Jackson are doing almost unimaginable things with single sheets of paper, and beyond that, have had extraordinary influences in the application of origami to the sciences.”“We are honored to showcase the work of some of the foremost origami artists in the world here in Oklahoma City — artists like physicist Robert Lang, wildlife biologist Bernie Peyton, MIT faculty Erik and Martin Demaine, and professional artist Paul Jackson are doing almost unimaginable things with single sheets of paper, and beyond that, have had extraordinary influences in the application of origami to the sciences,” said Scott Henderson, director of SMO’s smART Space galleries.

“Over the last 30 years, origami has evolved from traditional shapes into advanced geometric forms through the use of analytical geometry, linear algebra, calculus and graph theory, and the applications are amazing. Principles of origami are being used by NASA for space exploration, in research labs to fight cancer, in manufacturing to make solar panels more efficient and to make air bags safer — and the list goes on,” Henderson added.

Guests will not only take in more than a hundred origami pieces and learn about how origami is used in science, but can also try their hands at creating their own unique shapes in the exhibit’s hands-on space.

“Into the Fold: The Art and Science of Origami” is open through January 13, 2019, and is included with general admission.

In this Chats and Snacks segment, I had lunch with the President and CEO of Bricktown Brewery, Buck Warfield. At the new location in Edmond, we discussed and sampled the new Twisted Comfort Food menu items.

I’ve retooled the Chats and Snacks segment as a way for more established local restaurants to share what’s new with them. I’ve also recently invested in a second matching camera to do these multicamera shoots more easily and at a higher quality.

Chicken Fried Turkey Sandwich
Chicken-fried turkey breast atop a layer of mashed potatoes, maple black pepper gravy, cranberry apple chutney and mayo all served on a French roll. Served with choice of side. $11.25

Uncovering Oklahoma is made possible by our Patrons on Patreon! If you want to get cool rewards while keeping this series independent, become a patron. Resturant owners and chefs, if you want to be featured on Chats and Snacks, contact me. All you’ll have to provide is the food.

In Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work, Piyush Patel offers an insider’s perspective on how to unify your team around a common purpose by uncovering your core values and transforming your culture. In this Tuesday Treat Q&A session, Piyush explains what readers can expect his book and shares some advice for entrepreneurs.

What can readers expect to learn with “Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work?”After reading Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work, entrepreneurs will have a solid understanding of how to build a culture that matters. Each chapter covers a different topic you’ll come across on that journey—coming up with values, onboarding new people and having uncomfortable conversations—in a way that is designed to inspire and help you get started right away.

How do you describe yourself and what you do?
My background is as a teacher. While I was working as a sixth-grade science teacher I taught myself computer graphics, which I then started to teach part-time at a local community college. That turned into a full-time gig teaching computer graphics.

I knew there had to be a better way for artists to learn computer graphics.

While teaching full-time, I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in adult education with a focus on e-Learning. At the time, there wasn’t YouTube. Streaming video wasn’t a thing yet. I still remember the first sale to a visual effects artist in Israel who covered the shipping of CDs—Digital-Tutors was born.

Even though I had a tenured position at the college, I decided to take the leap. I quit my position, hired my wife and two of my best friends who taught with me and went full-time with Digital-Tutors. Fast forward five years and we had become an industry standard with clients like Pixar, Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard, LucasArts, Disney and so on.

In 2014, I decided to move onto the next chapter of life and sold Digital-Tutors to Pluralsight for $45 million. Over the course of 14 years at Digital-Tutors, people were always surprised when they found out how small Digital-Tutors was. At our largest headcount we had 42 full-time people and released new online tutorials daily to serve millions of customers around the world.

At Digital-Tutors, we were able to build an eight-figure company without any debt or help from outside investors, but the most important thing was that everyone who worked at Digital-Tutors loved working there. That’s how we were able to get stuff done that outperformed other companies with hundreds of employees. Our people were the secret to our success.

What inspired you to write this particular book?“I knew there had to be a better way for entrepreneurs to build a great culture while still loving their work.”This leads into the answer from the previous question, but after leaving Digital-Tutors I had a bit of culture shock of my own to see a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with some of the fundamentals of creating a great culture.

I knew there had to be a better way for entrepreneurs to build a great culture while still loving their work.

The book pulls stories from my experiences at Digital-Tutors and other entrepreneurs I’ve coached to share practical steps any entrepreneur can do to start building a culture that matters at their own company.

What was the greatest challenge you overcame in writing Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work?
Getting the tone of the book right. I had lots of help from Dan and Derek who helped greatly by pulling in stories and lessons to fit a ton of inspiration.

How do you recommend people play by their own rules?
Playing by your own rules boils down to identifying your core values—your real core values, not aspirational ones. That’s an important distinction to make because it’s one of the most common mistakes I’ll see entrepreneurs make.

That’s why, when coaching a leadership team for the first time, one of the first questions I like to ask is, “What are your core values?”

The answer is usually something like “Quality” or “Honesty.”

Then those same entrepreneurs who claim “Honesty” and then be alright with lying to a customer about the real reason why their products or services aren’t working. Or they’ll claim “Quality” as one of their core values will scramble when a customer shows up needing something quickly. Quality gets thrown out the window to deliver on time. “Quality” isn’t a core value; it’s just an empty promise.

As a leader, your actions speak louder than words. Your core values aren’t something you aspire to be, they’re what you’re already living. Once you’ve identified your core values, those are the rules of your game. That’s how you play the game of running your business. They should be at the heart of everything your company does.

What are some of the ideas you share about how others can lead their tribe and love their work?
There’s two key elements that work together to build a great culture. The first are your core values and the second are the top three layers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: belonging, affirmation, and meaning (BAM).

One of the most important lessons I learned at Digital-Tutors was how crucial your core values are for building a tribe. Just as important, what happens to your company when you don’t make conscious decisions about them. At Digital-Tutors, when I started to focus on the bottom line instead of the core values was when my passion for my company started to wane.

The same is true for your tribe.

It’s hard for your employees to be passionate about your work when you’re worried about whether their paycheck will be able to put food on the table or if you’ll even have a job tomorrow.

That’s where BAM comes in. Humans are hardwired to belong to groups—we want to be a part of something. That’s belonging. Affirmation comes when we feel those around us truly appreciate our contribution to the tribe we belong to. Finally, the ultimate goal is meaning. Everyone wants to feel like their work means something. You’re not just punching keys in front of a computer screen, but you’re making a difference in someone else’s life.

Every company gives their employees a basic paycheck, but few go further to truly meet their team’s needs beyond that. When you create a culture of BAM, you’re unlocking the passion that’s required for your employees to want to be the best they can be.

You’ve just been put in charge of a tribe of ghosts to make a hotel more haunted so human patrons would have a spooky-good time to increase customer experience. How would you lead these ghosts?
Well, I can’t say I’m familiar with what drives a ghost to do what they do, so I’ll have to pull from my experience with humans.

My role as CEO at Digital-Tutors wasn’t to focus on the customer to meet our bottom line. Instead, my role was to make sure my tribe was taken care of so they, in turn, could take care of the customer. Then the customer took care of our bottom line.

An important part of being a leader is hiring the right people (or ghosts in this case) who fit into your company’s culture and can do great work. Then your job as a leader is to let them do what they do best and work to remove any roadblocks that get in their way.

http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/03/lead-your-tribe-love-your-work-by-piyush-patel/feed/015679Monday Music Discovery for March 5, 2018http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/03/monday-music-discovery-for-march-5-2018/
http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/03/monday-music-discovery-for-march-5-2018/#respondMon, 05 Mar 2018 12:00:01 +0000http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/?p=15666Welcome to the Monday Music Discovery playlist where I feature a mixtape of both new music video videos and singles of all genres of music by local bands in Oklahoma. In this Monday Music Discovery, I have new songs by Jarvix, Matt Moran, and BASH. If you’re interested in having your music video or new single highlighted, connect here.

Adworld by Jarvix
– Jarvix on Facebook
– Jarvix on Twitter
– Jarvix on InstgramArtist Statement: In Fall of 2017, Brian Winkeler of Robot House Creative approached me about doing a parody song, and a very specific one at that. The challenge was to have fun with familiar, Oklahoma-specific advertising tropes under a deadpan reinvention of everyone’s favorite Donnie Darko tune, “Mad World.” This would then be performed live at the 2018 Addy Awards, which has a different theme and presentation for each annual gala.

After months of collaborative edits and rewrites, this is the result. I had the pleasure of debuting this live at the Bricktown Event Center on February 24, 2018. Special shout out to Digital DK’s Steve Jones for knocking this video out of the park.

This is….Adworld.

Credits: Created for the 52nd Annual Oklahoma Addy Awards, presented by the OKC Ad Club. Concept by Brian Winkeler of Robot House Creative. Written by Jarvix in collaboration with Robot House Creative. Song arranged, recorded, and performed by Jarvix. Video edited by Steve Jones of Digital DK. Based on “Mad World” by Tears for Fears as covered by Gary Jules.

No, I by BASH
– BASH on Twitter
– BASH on InstgramArtist Statement: No I is the first song and video released from BASH. BASH previously went by Gabriyella and her songs can be found on SoundCloud under such. BASH showcases a new sound and style.

If you’re interested in having your music video or new single featured in the Monday Music Discovery series, connect here.

In this Tuesday Treat Q&A session, Taylor from Vonna Pearl talks about their self-titled debut album. I also asked them who has the meanest mug, what they’ll never ever do again, and about dreams.

How do you describe yourself and your music?
I would describe our music as some sort of eclectic group of songs that are starkly different from each other, but somehow congeal into a cohesive sound. If I heard it on the radio, I would probably call it “indie” music, but I like to think it sticks its own head out in a way.

What got you interested in creating music and sharing it with others?
My mom gave me a copy of “A Night At The Opera” by Queen when I was 5 or so. The opening guitar riff to the album terrified me. Like in a way that fascinated me to my core. I think I’ve constantly been chasing that feeling.

Who are some of your musical influences?
I’m an embarrassingly big fan of Beatles, Zeppelin, Kinks, Bowie Doors, ELO etc… I’m also, and always have been very drawn to/influenced by early R&B stuff like any of the Motown/Stax records artists. I would be lying if I didn’t say that 75% of the music i listen to is from before 1975.

What was the greatest challenge you overcame in making this album?
I wish I had some dramatic story to tell you, but the making of the album was pretty quick and painless. Chelsey and I had recorded a few songs together several months earlier on a whim, and decided to expand on that idea. Chavez and O spent a month or so in the studio hashing out the production of each song, and it kind of all just fell into place.

For delicious handmade macarons, pastries, gourmet doughnuts, Belle Kitchen in Oklahoma City makes their treats completely from scratch using only the best ingredients from simple recipes.

This is a re-edited video that I originally shot back in 2016. The weather and scheduling conflicts have prevented me from making a new video this week so I hope you enjoy this one! If you haven’t watched last week’s video about venues worth renting in Oklahoma City, go watch that too. If you want something new and unreleased, over at Patreon I shared the raw interviews of a new series.

In the manga-influenced comedy for all ruthless, evil geniuses, Doc Crimson is a mature comic series by Don Rosencrans that centers around a single father who is doing the best he can to help raise his daughter while being the leader of an evil superpower. In this Tuesday Treat Q&A session, Don Rosencrans shares how he came up with the idea, a proud/shameful creative moment, what he would personally do with a giant robot, and more.

What is Doc Crimson about?
Doc Crimson tells the tales following a single father who’s simply trying to raise his daughter and be an upstanding father while trying to balance his full-time duty as the leader of a bloodthirsty evil empire. You know, just like the rest of us trying to get by in our day-to-day lives.

How did this idea of a single-father super villain come about?
It really comes down to telling a different kind of story. A lot of things focus on the protagonist and their stories, which is great: everyone loves to root for the good guy. And in comics the day to day lives of any character aren’t really fleshed out terribly often beyond the scope of heroic adventures and whatnot.

Another part of it is just it being a story most parents can relate to. It really can be kind of difficult in a single parent’s situation trying to make time for their kids and make those moments count. It’s just in Doc’s case, she happens to be surrounded a gang of ruthless psychopaths that are hell-bent on world domination.

What got you interested in making comics?
It’s always been the fact that it’s an artform truly unique to our generation. Although the idea of telling concise stories means of illustration have been around as far back as we can remember, it seems like we’ve only recently been able to perfect that to the form it currently is right now. And even with all the advancements in animation, that’s taken on a whole new level of achievement. And who knows what it will look like 20 plus years from now even!

What are some challenges you face in making this comic series?
I would have to say balance. Just like the character himself is trying to find that balance in his life, how do I display a sense of balance between the normal life events and…well, the absolutely bizarre.

Any behind the scenes stories you wish to share?
About a year ago, Charles (founder and fellow member of Literati Press) had brought to my attention how unsettling (though well laid out) the cover was to the first issue. I told him stop tripping, it just shows the reader exactly what they’re getting into.

A few short months later, a small child is carousing through the book store and stumbles upon this cover with a limbless corpse-turned-human pinata on the cover. Looking like he’d just seen a ghost, he tells his dad, “daddy, Doc Crimson makes me scream in my mind.”

Proud/shameful creative moment of mine.

Why should one read the comic?
It’s pretty easy for any parent to relate to, especially if being an evil doctor is something you happen to be.

Who are some of your favorite super-villains?
Doctor Doom is always going to be a favorite of mine in the traditional “bad for the sake of being bad” sense. There’s always Frieza that fits in that department.

What would you personally do with a giant robot?
I suppose you can read the comic to find out…

…I’m kidding! I’m not that terrible of a human being. But I would do some selfish things, such as using it for transportation wherever in the world (or galaxy) I please.

Anything else you want to say or let people know?
Just the simple stuff. I appreciate you taking the time to read this interview and if you pick the comic book (currently at New World Comics and Speeding Bullet, and the first issue is already up at Comixology, with the second following soon) up don’t hesitate for a second to hit me up online. I absolutely love getting feedback from people and look forward to you fine folks and folkettes enjoying it!

http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/doc-crimson-by-don-rosencrans/feed/015637Monday Music Discovery for Feb. 19, 2018http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/monday-music-discovery-for-feb-19-2018/
http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/monday-music-discovery-for-feb-19-2018/#respondMon, 19 Feb 2018 12:00:48 +0000http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/?p=15526Welcome to the Monday Music Discovery playlist where I feature a mixtape of both new music video videos and singles of all genres of music by local bands in Oklahoma. In this Monday Music Discovery, I have new songs by WoRm, Cortney Lachelle, Kill Billy Da Goat, and Dez Sanquez. If you’re interested in having your music video or new single highlighted, connect here.

Netflix ‘N’ Trill (Ft. L.T.Z.) by WoRm
– WoRm on Facebook
– WoRm on Twitter
– WoRm on InstgramArtist Statement: This song is about having fun and having imagination. It’s about being you around the people you wanna hang with whether it’s ya homies or a beautiful woman. This song just feels like Friday night or a weekend. It’s just a vibe really.

Step’n by Cortney Lachelle
– Cortney Lachelle on Twitter
– Cortney Lachelle on InstagramArtist Statement: My first ever single “Step’n“ was written over a year ago. I’m a singer but recently started exploring my rapper side and it’s been received very well. I wrote this song during a time where I felt I was being slept on and downplayed. I wanted everyone to know that I’m coming for their necks, no if, ands or buts about it.

She Aint Gon Give It by Dez Sanquez
– Dez Sanquez on Twitter
– Dez Sanquez on InstagramArtist Statement: As men, we can be guilty of not allowing women to grow. I wanted to create a song that was fun from a music standpoint but also a teaching tool for men, including myself.

If you’re interested in having your music video or new single featured in the Monday Music Discovery series, connect here.

For this week’s video, I’ve highlighted several different places in Oklahoma City where you can host your next event. This story doesn’t include every single event venue available for rent, but it does showcase a wide variety of options and price points. Featured in this video is V2 at Vast, Plenty, the OKC Boathouses, The Paramount Room, Will Rogers Theatre, Myriad Botanical Gardens, The Farmers Market, and PhotoArt Studios. In the video, I’ve given each place about a minute to talk about themselves and in this article goes into more details about what they offer.

Elevate your Event at V2, Events at Vast. Experience unmatched view, food and service for all your guests to enjoy. Located on the 50th Floor of the Devon Energy Center, V2 features approximately 12,250 square feet of space that can be divided into seven different event spaces that can perfectly entertain all day business meetings, luncheons, weddings, etc. All of our rooms feature beautiful Oklahoma City view that can accommodate parties from as little as 10 guests to as large as 480 guests.

V2 offers a selections of menus and catering packages to best accommodate your needs. We can customize any menu to better fit your event needs, so don’t be shy in making suggestions. Our dedicated staff is always on hand to make your experience at V2 memorable.

The Rooftop at PLENTY is a 2,300 square foot, lit, uncovered, open floor plan space with Interior/exterior stair access only, accommodating up to 150 persons. The Warehouse at PLENTY is a 1,800 square foot, lit, climate-controlled, raw space with Broadway Avenue and rear alley access, accommodating up to 90 persons.

If you wish to hold a consecutive ceremony and reception at the venue, our required Wedding Package offers a 10-hour event, allowing both The Warehouse & The Rooftop for your combination ceremony and reception wedding with a combined maximum of 240 persons with a warehouse limit of 90 persons and a rooftop limit of 150 persons.

Both spaces are outfitted with many of our favorite and functional pieces and additional PLENTY-Picked props are available for on-site rental.

The Boathouse District provides a memorable setting for your holiday party, wedding, business meeting or retreat. Located on the north shore of the Oklahoma River, private event facilities in the Boathouse District offer scenic views of the river set against the backdrop of downtown Oklahoma City. The dramatic architecture of each building and expansive outdoor facilities create unique spaces for gatherings of all sizes – from intimate cocktail parties to corporate picnics.

There are a variety of private event facilities in the Boathouse District. From the Finish Line Tower, the perfect space for a wedding rehearsal or business meeting, to the Devon Boathouse, a two-floor venue with seating up to 180, you’ll find contemporary architecture, walls of windows with natural lighting, and beautiful views of Oklahoma City. These spaces, along with the CHK|Central Boathouse and McClendon Whitewater Center, can be set up to fit your every need.

The staff in the Boathouse District make planning your event easy. They offer an array of catering options and can recommend local vendors for decorations, music, and photography. They can also accommodate any special audio/visual requirements your event may need. For more information on event spaces in the Boathouse District visit riversportokc.org/private-events/.

The Paramount Room is the ballroom and event space located on the second floor of the Historic Paramount building at the heart of Film Row in OKC. We host all events including birthday parties, corporate meetings, reception dinners, wedding ceremonies, and even private cocktail hours. Our space boosts a bright 1600 square foot event space with wood floors and an unforgettable view of the Downtown OKC skyline, as well as a 1200 sq-foot speakeasy-style cocktail lounge. With all event rentals, we include the necessary tables, chairs, sound, and even use of our cater friendly prep kitchen with one modest fee that fits most any budget.

We have a beautifully rich history as one of the oldest buildings that brought film distribution to Oklahoma City and we’d love to give you a tour! Please contact us via our website and schedule a time to come by and check us out.

The Will Rogers Theatre provides a unique and classic environment for any occasion or event you are planning. Celebrate with us, in a beautiful interior and unique ambiance. Will Rogers Theatre Events Center serves as a full-time location for weddings, banquets, receptions, corporate events, associations, meeting and much more.

If you’re looking for that extra special something to make your wedding and wedding reception just perfect, the stunningly beautiful surroundings of the Myriad Botanical Gardens may be just the thing to make your event magical.

From black-tie formals to enchanting garden soirees, ceremonies and receptions at Myriad Gardens make for an unforgettable wedding destination no matter the season. With acres of artfully landscaped grounds, the Gardens offers a selection of striking venues inside and out. Gather your loved ones and say, “I do” surrounded by the beauty of Oklahoma City’s urban oasis.

Proceeds from rental fees help Myriad Botanical Gardens, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, earn revenue to create and maintain beautiful gardens and open green space in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. Fees also help us offer free educational, recreational and cultural programming for all in our community.

The Market first opened its doors on June 16, 1928, on the former site of the Delmar Gardens Amusement Park. Its first event, a professional boxing match was actually held two weeks before the official opening. Since then, it has become one of Oklahoma City’s premier event centers – playing host to concerts, weddings, trade shows, sporting events and celebrations of all types.

The Market boasts; 15 foot, sun-drenched windows and an incomparable view of the OKC skyline, its original maple dance floor is the largest in the state, and a mezzanine that allows your guests to casually linger while checking out the action below. On the National Register of Historic Places, this is Oklahoma City’s oldest and most unique event center with character and esthetic charm that is unmatched and guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on you and your guests.

When you book your event with us, you will gain access to an eclectic ambiance the is unique to Oklahoma City. We will don the white gloves and give you the freedom to custom tailor your event to ensure that it exceeds expectations. For more information please check out our website at okcfarmersmarket.com.

PhotoArt Studios is the ideal venue for your next corporate event, reception or photography project. Conveniently located in the burgeoning Plaza Arts District, PhotoArt Studios has been thoughtfully designed to maximize your experience. The utmost care has been taken to ensure facilities are first-class, with a large studio, full kitchen, dressing areas, as well as spaces for both working and playing. The reinvention of the structure has been at the forefront of the revitalization of the Plaza District, which has become a haven for performing and cultural arts.

The studio is a fun and fluid space which combines art and functionality while successfully blending with the edgy, unique character of the district. Neighbors to the studio include entertainment and arts venues, local shops, restaurants, galleries and other creative-minded businesses.

PhotoArt Studios was originally conceived to foster creativity at all levels. Never compromising on quality or artistic integrity, PhotoArt has consistently worked towards its vision of bringing world-class Photography to the Oklahoma market. Now, the expansion from pure working photographic studio to multifunctional event venue brings to fruition the goal of restoring the Plaza District as a thriving destination in Oklahoma City.

]]>http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/oklahoma-city-event-venues/feed/015603Where Nobody Goes by Chelsey Copehttp://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/where-nobody-goes-by-chelsey-cope/
http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/where-nobody-goes-by-chelsey-cope/#respondTue, 13 Feb 2018 15:45:57 +0000http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/?p=15615
In this Tuesday Treat Q&A session, I speak with Chelsey Cope about her first LP album, Where Nobody Goes. Chelsey also shares what she’ll never do again in life, places to go in Oklahoma, and where nobody should go.

How do you describe yourself and your music?“Once I discovered an emotional release in writing and playing music, that was sort of the answer for me. So I think mostly every song I’ve written has an attachment to what I was feeling the moment I sat down to write it.”Once I discovered an emotional release in writing and playing music, that was sort of the answer for me. So I think mostly every song I’ve written has an attachment to what I was feeling the moment I sat down to write it. I consider myself a very laid back gal who wants to laugh a lot. But you can definitely take notice that a lot of my songs are based around personal struggles.

What got you interested in creating music and sharing it with others?
I don’t think I ever once thought, “Hey I’m going to be like that person on TV whose music I love”. I really do believe music chose me, and I think it continues to choose me every day. I lean on it for a lot of support.

Who are some of your musical influences?
I grew up listening to a lot of 90’s country. As soon as I moved cities and was introduced to other things, I really found myself liking Tom Waits thanks to my stepfather. But a big influence when I was younger were artists like Jewel, Cat Power, Neil Young, Patti Smith and Joni Mitchell. I wouldn’t go as far to say they influence how I write, but they are things I enjoy listening to.

What was the greatest challenge you overcame in making this album?
The time it took to finish. It takes a lot of work to finish a professional project when you’re a 20 something slinging drinks behind a bar. But I’m stubborn and I knew that if I was to be truly proud of this thing, I had to allow myself to experience hard work the hardest way I knew how.

Where should nobody go?
In my bag of Oreo’s! No but seriously, everyone should go where nobody goes. Just don’t let anyone else go there but yourself. We all have things that set us apart as individuals. I’m a firm believer in having a relationship with yourself that you don’t share with anyone. It’s where the pep talks, over analyzing, and the beautiful things hide to be born or to fizzle out.

Where should people go in Oklahoma?
I’m a huge lover of the outdoors. As much as I am a candidate for the arts, nothing makes me happier than visiting some of the beautiful places here a lot of people don’t know about! The Wichita mountains and Roman Nose State Park are two of my favorite places. I also love visiting the Ouachita Mountains. They’re only 3 hours away from the city and it creates such a surreal feeling of being in Oklahoma but feeling like you’re somewhere else.

What will you never again do in life?
Distrust my instincts. I’ve had a hard time trusting what I feel, and allowing that skepticism to interfere with an otherwise healthy relationship with myself and who I am as a person.

What are some of your favorite monsters?
Ludo from the Labyrinth! I even combined the love of that monster and the composer, Ludovico Einaudi, to name my pup.

Anything else you want to say or let people know?
Just that I really hope, if nothing else, people can find a part of themselves in at least one of these songs. It’s the most vulnerable amount of anything I’ve put out there in one thing. At the end of the day you just hope to feel a little more understood, and like what you put out there could help someone else feel a little more understood too.

When the haunted house attraction, The Sanctuary OKC, moved to their new location, they sought to expand their offerings with a restaurant, escape room games, and a live concert venue. Tino Pascuzzi and Leslie Damron talk about The Ruins Bar & Grille. Then in the second half of the video, Louie Hernandez and Christina Imboden discuss The Sanctuary Escape.

Thank you to our supporters on Patreon, like our Superstar Supporter, Tobi Coleman! If you became a patron, you’ll get early access to the videos and bonus content. Plus, you’ll help make more content. Thank you for watching!

]]>http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/the-ruins-bar-grille-and-the-sanctuary-escape/feed/01557135.5897275 -97.437327935.5897275-97.4373279Painted Womanhttp://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/painted-woman/
http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/painted-woman/#respondTue, 06 Feb 2018 23:17:20 +0000http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/?p=15565
In this Tuesday Treat Q&A session, I speak with James Cotten, the director of the award-winning and critically acclaimed western movie, Painted Woman. The movie was inspired by best selling western novelist Dusty Richards’ book – The Mustanger and the Lady. The movie is available now in retail stores nationwide and all digital platforms.

Tell me a bit about yourself and your role with Painted Woman.
My name is James Cotten. I’m the director of Painted Woman. Amber Lindley and I wrote and produced the film together, but the film was conceptualized by her. She had optioned a book from Dusty Richards, one of the most prolific western authors of our time and local to her town of Fayetteville AR, and then she hired me. After reading Dusty’s book, I really wanted to try something different in the genre, to make a female empowerment story with a message. Amber and I worked on the story, kinda flipping the script on the male and female characters of the book, and then I went to work on the script. As far as how this became an Oklahoma film, I was born in Fort Smith and raised in Sallisaw, so I really wanted to bring the film home. Oklahoma has an amazing rebate program and a very talented actor and crew base to pull from. Amber met with the film office and was immediately sold on shooting the film there. It was a very cool experience to make that all happen.

What is Painted Woman about?
Painted Woman is a tragic and uplifting tale of Julie Richards (we named her after Dusty). Through no fault of her own, Julie life has always been bad… passed from hand to hand in a web of abuse and prostitution. When the story starts, she is a kept woman of a local power broker, Kyle Allison, who doesn’t treat her any better. As his world is crumbling he brings in an assassin to clean up his business. This debonair guy is attractive and well spoken, and seems to want to help Julie. That’s where it starts. You’ll have to watch to see where it goes. I think the film is very smart, but hey, I wrote and directed it.

Where was the movie filmed?
We found so many amazing locations in Oklahoma. I think one of the best parts of making this movie, was that when Amber gave me the reins to the script, I could manufacturer it to places we had scouted. I think that’s what people don’t understand about westerns, they don’t get made often because they’re expensive, everything has to be created. But when I was writing and could place things in places we could afford, places that were just sitting there, already dressed and ready to shoot, like the Overholser Mansion in downtown OKC, or the Harn Holmstead had a furnished house sitting on the property. We shot at Lake Thunderbird and on a ranch in Ames, but I think I was most proud of using Guthrie. I had been a camp counselor for the Muscular Dystrophy Association when I was young, at a camp outside Guthrie so I knew what it looked like. It was perfect and really helped me put themes into the story, because you could shoot so wide and tell the first half of the movie in a town setting without cheating. Perfect.

What was the best part about filming in Oklahoma?
The best part was definitely the crew and actors. So many talented people who love to make movies. Nathan Gardocki was our Unit Production Manager. I just don’t think it would have gone so smoothly without him at the helm. Sometimes money and creative fight, but with Nathan, I had a perfect partner in making this thing feel bigger than it should. Sam Calvin was the director of photography and probably the biggest gem I found, such a talented guy. Brent Mannon Cottrell, Toni Marlo, Jack and Jeneva of Ginger House… all these people were amazing! I also have to give a shout out to Chris Freihofer. He is a local actor, who runs classes for actors. He’s in the movie, but he really helped us find so many other great actors to fill out the cast. These weren’t the only Oklahomans involved… I even brought Oklahomans with me from Los Angeles. Corey Allen Jackson, the composer, is originally from the city. He has worked with me before and did an outstanding job on the music. Ricki Maslar cast the leads of the film in LA. She just so happened to be my first agent in Oklahoma, back in the day.

What got you interested in making movies?
I’m pretty classic in why I do this. I think it has something to do with my parents owning a movie rental store in Sallisaw. I think I was always a storyteller and I love movies. I never wrote a paper in high school. I made a film. But hey, I’m from a small town, so I wasn’t exactly encouraged to follow this career path. I tripped into it by working and acting in Tuskegee Airmen, which was an HBO movie shot in Fort Smith and Muskogee. So, with that bit of luck, having something fall in your lap… I found what I wanted to do with my life. It’s definitely made for a fun ride!

What was the greatest challenge you overcame in this production?
The biggest obstacle was the budget. Definitely. When you walk into the hardest film to make on a budget with a limited number, everything is a challenge. But if you know how to make things work for you, have good people who understand the limitation and how to exceed it, you can make something beautiful.

Why should one see the movie?
Amber and I hope that we made a film for everyone. Of course, western lovers will love this movie, whether you’re into historically accurate or just someone spinning the yarn, or a Dusty Richards fan, there’s something for you. I hope that cinephiles will find something for them, in the way we made it, the way we told the story, the artistry, the themes. And I hope that never complicates the story for anyone who just wants to lose themselves in a story for a little while. Fans of the actors, Stef Dawson (Hunger Games), Matt Dallas (Kyle XY), Kiowa Gordon (Twilight), Robert Craighead (futureman) will have something for them. Probably most importantly, we hope that people who are living in abusive situations, will see that they have worth, like Julie. And the rest of us will see that when we see someone in that situation, that we are just as culpable, if we don’t do something about it. The world is only bad when good people don’t do anything, right?

Anything else you wish to share?
The film has won 9 awards, including Best Film and Best Director. We are the 4th highest grossing western in theaters for 2017. We will be opening the Manchester International Film Festival in March.

http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/painted-woman/feed/015565Monday Music Discovery for Feb. 5, 2018http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/monday-music-discovery-for-feb-5-2018/
http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/2018/02/monday-music-discovery-for-feb-5-2018/#respondMon, 05 Feb 2018 17:20:22 +0000http://www.uncoveringoklahoma.com/?p=15549Welcome to the Monday Music Discovery playlist where I feature a mixtape of both new music video videos and singles of all genres of music by local bands in Oklahoma. This week I have a new music video by Grand National. If you’re interested in having your music video or new single highlighted, connect here.

Switchin’ Lanes by Grand NationalArtist Statement: This video/song is the first to come from my upcoming project entitled “El Camino Theory.” This song represents change and adopting to your surroundings, you may start off one way but eventually you have to grow and switch things up.

If you’re interested in having your music video or new single featured in the Monday Music Discovery series, connect here.